Sometimes Christians seek God for the gifts and blessings God gives to his children. But God is so much more than his lavish gifts. Sometimes we get way more excited about doing things for God than being with God. Yet only by being in God’s presence, we are at our best. Only by being in God’s presence, we bloom. And only by being in God’s presence, we are truly happy.

In Your presence is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11, AMP)

How to find fullness of joy

I have to admit I’ve been more occupied with the call God has laid upon my heart than with him and forgotten the importance of being in God’s presence. That’s what God wants: to hang out with his friends without agenda. And that’s how we find fullness of joy: by being in God’s presence. By being, not by doing. Because without God’s presence, we are nothing no matter how busy or religious we are.

Remain in Me, and I[will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. (John 15:4, AMP)

We can’t make our ministry or life fruitful without being in God’s presence. There’s no way around it. God is happy that we want to do his will but all that is second to being in his presence. Having a close relationship with Jesus is what’s essential for us. Everything else will follow naturally as long as we abide in him. It’s not about us, it’s about God through us. And that happens as long as we linger in God’s presence.

By being in God’s presence

The essence of Christian living is about being in God’s presence. Being, not doing. And that can be hard. We’d like to show off our competency, earn God’s love, do something, anything really. But God invites us into being in his presence. First, it might feel awkward. But the more we just are in God’s presence, easier it becomes. Soon it’s not awkward at all. We learn that it’s okay to be ourselves in God’s presence. Hence, we don’t need to pretend anything. God loves us just as we are. And that love starts to change us, not our attempts to do better.

It’s God’s love that transforms us while we sit in his presence. There we learn about our heavenly father. How over the top amazing his love is. What a large and welcoming his heart is. How precious his presence is. Suddenly, we are not in hurry anymore. We are where the fullness of joy is, we are where we belong.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for your patience
as we slowly get to know you.
We praise you for your love and grace.
Draw us near to you,
take away things that hinder us
from enjoying your presence.
Because in your presence is fullness of joy
and that’s where we belong.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you linger in God’s presence?

Be blessed my fellow pilgrim as you find fullness of joy by being in God’s presence!

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash. I am linking up with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.